Method and means for improving radioreception



May 7, 1935. M; H. LIVINGSTON METHOD AND MEANS FOR IMPROVING RADIORECEPTION 2 SheetsSheet l R W 7 /2 1 Q I 4 2 Z 3 L w a m T m ,W F v z NY 4 5 2 CA Zgo'zfiuaacjes May 7, 1935. M. H. LIVINGSTON METHOD AND MEANS FOR IMPROVING RADIORECEPTION 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1932 W \k 2/ m 0 24 0m 2 WW J ,9 Z J 1% Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES METHOD AND MEAN S FOR lllIPROVlNG RADIORECEPTION Maurice H. Livingston, Chicago, Ill., assignor of forty per cent to Joseph M. Weisbaum and twenty-five per cent to J. Frederick Ahlborn,

both of Chicago, Ill.

Application January 25, 1932, Serial No. 588,641

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in radio or wireless reception and the production of sounds therefrom and has special reference to improved means and methods of. eliminating static and other unwanted interference, clarifying wireless reception, improving the tonal quality and assisting in differentiating stations whose wave lengths are closely related, and eliminating radio static to a degree of negligibility, and it relates generally to means and methodsfor improving radio reception in all desired qualities.

One object of the invention is to provide means whereby all outside and all usual inside aerials, lightning arresters, condensers in line with aerials, etc., shall be eliminated,'in which all connections with separate or fixed devices of this character shall be eliminated, and ground wire connections are eliminated in practically all installations, it being merely necessary to make connection by means of a plug to the usual electric light supply circuit, either house, local or general.

A further object of this invention is to make the receiving apparatus more readily movable from place to place or room to room by the elimination of. all fixed devices, such as aerials, grounds, etc., the only connection so far as the use of this invention in connection with receiving sets is concerned being with an electric light circuit by means of a usual connecting plug. In other words, by means of this invention, receiving sets can be instantly installed and set into opera tion by merely plugging in on an electric light circuit. v

It is a further object of the invention to provide a very simple method of eliminating all unwanted electrical impulses before they reach the receiving set and filtering through to the set only suchimpulses as are desired in the production of sound. Furthermore, the impulses which are filtered through to the, set are improved in tonal quality and clarified of undesired'vibrations and are especially freed from the usual nearby interferences, such as those produced by electric carpet sweepers, ray or other high voltage machines, de-

fective connections on street railway lines, etc.

Another feature of importance is that by the use of this invention, the sensitivity and selectivity of the radio set to which it is attached is very greatly enhanced so that the tuning of the receiving set to slight variations of wave length is readily accomplished.

Another beneficial feature results from the elimination, by means of this invention, of extreme wave impulses such as occur from overin voltage or the manipulation of electric devices off of the same circuit to which the receiving set is attached and which ordinarily overheat and 5 shorten the life of the radio tubes.

To the accomplishment of the above and associated ends, the invention consists in the, means and methods hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, the accompanying drawings forming part of thisv specification and the following description setting forth in detail one embodiment exemplifying the invention, such disclosed method and arrangement of parts and devices, and combinations of parts constituting, however, but one of various. applications of the principle of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to said drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the device, the case being closed;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View showing the case open and exposing the working parts to view;

Fig.3 is a vertical, longitudinal, section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is a vertical, transverse section on the line 4-4'of Fig. 1; V

V Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3; and j I Fig. 6 is a fagmentary, longitudinal, sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, l represents a case especially adaptedfor this purpose and preferably comprising an upper part 2 and a lower part 3. These two parts, as shown, are separable for opening the case for the purpose of exposing the contents.

v The two partsof the case are held in registry when closed by any. suitable means, suchas dowelsd projecting down from the wall'of the upper part 2 and entering co-operating dowel openings 5. in the walls of the lower part 3.

The top or cover 2 has installed thereon an electric light socket 6 for carrying an electric lamp 1 of small wattage and the socket is provided with some suitable means for connecting and extinguishing the lamp 1 such as the pull chain 8. The lamp 1 is typical of any suitable device for causing a flow of electricity through the circuit to which it is attached.

Preferably, the Walls of the case are made of some suitable insulating material such as wood and it is provided with openings 9 in its top wall 10, the several openings together presenting a pleasing design such as a harp shape.

These openings are covered with fine woven screen II secured against the underside of the top wall I as by tacks I2. The screen II may be of any suitable material but is preferably of fine copper wire.

A twin circuit wire I3 is provided by which the device can be connected to a source of supply of electric current by means of a usual connecting plug I4 on its free end. This twin wire enters the case through an opening in one end:

wall of the lower part 3 of the case and is formed around within the case, as best shown in Fig. 2,

being first formed to lie in the corner of the case between one side wall 15. of the lower part 3 and the bottom I6, then similarly along the end I! of the lower part 3 and the bottom I6, then similarly along the opposite wall I8 of the lower part 3 and the'bottom I6 to a point about two-thirds the length of the case, from which point it is formed upwardly and toward the center line of the top part 2 of the case, the

two wires of the twin wire I3 being connected in thelamp socket 6 for supplying current to the lamp 1. V

For connecting the device to a binding post of the radio receiving set with which the device isused, a single, flexible, multiple strand insulated wire I9 is provided, its free end adapted to be clamped to a connecting antenna post I9 of the receiving set, usually the antenna post, but in some instances the ground post. The post I9 typifies the complete receiving set which is not shown. The usual antenna circuit of a receiving set includes the antenna connected to the antenna post the antenna circuit of the receiving set and the ground wire connected to the ground post and I9 typifies such a circuit.

This wire I9 enters the case through the same opening through which the twin wire I3 enters and is interwoven with the wires of the twin wire from its point of entry of the case to the socket 6, as best shown in Fig. 2. 7

At the socket 6, the wire I9 is turned back alongside of the three interwoven wires and is held tightly against same throughout the interwoven section or, in other words, back to where the wires enter the case by wrappings 20 of insulation tape and preferably with wrappings of tinfoil 2| beneath the tape.

The twin wire I3, the interwoven part of the wire I9 and the return part are held tightly in the lower corners of the case by insulated staples 22 at frequent intervals.

At the point, where the wires enter the case they are all bound tightly together, as shown at 23, by a wrapping of insulation tape 24, preferably with a wrapping of tinfoil 24' beneath same. V

The single,,flexible, multiple wire I 9'which is connected at one end to the antenna, post of the set leaves the other wires at the juncture 23 and is secured .to the end 25 of the case by an insulated staple 26. Fromthe point where the wire I9 leaves the twin wire, its insulation is removed, thus exposing the multiple strands 27 thereof and at a plurality of points, in the form shown at three places, the strands are separated and are formed into what may be termed flattened, filtering loops 21 joined by portions 28 of the wire in which the strands are not separated. Preferably, the portions 28 are wrapped in tinfoil as shown at 29 and the inner end portion of the wire is secured to the bottom I6 of the case by insulated staples 30 on the unopened parts 28 of the wire. Preferably, the several filtering loops 21' are arranged in substantially a single plane about midway of the height of the case, as best shown in Fig. 4. The free end portion 3| of the wire I9, beyond the last staple 39 is bent up above the filtering loops and is then bent to lie substantially in the case, the strands 32 being straightened out and separated into fan-shape asshown in the drawings and above the plane of the filtering loops 21. These multiple ends are very thin and needle-like and are quite flexible. They project toward the end I of the case and are spread out somewhat vertically so that when the case is closed some of them contact with the wire screeen I l on the top I0 of the case and some of them contact with some of the loops 21.

The fan-shaped loose strands or needle-like points also act to assist in picking up electrical impulses from the air and work in conjunction with the other features to clarify and increase selectivity and improve tonal quality of the receiving set. a

Whilethe wire I9is connected to the antennna post of the set and in that sense might be called the antenna of the set, its real function'is to absorb. impulses brought in by the twin wire I3 from the outside circuit to which it is connected and by induction on account of its close association with the twin wire direct such impulses into the set.

But it has another and just as important function and that is to reduce or eliminate unwanted impulses. This is accomplished by the needlelike wires at its free inner end, the several loops 21. operating to assist this dispersion and. also to clarify the reception.

The weaving of the flexible wire I9 with the twin wire I3, the arrangement of the interwoven portions in a form to encircle the filtering loops, and the inter-relation of the spread out ends of the wire I9 all. have their part to accomplish in the functions of the device. This is also assisted by the tinfoil wrappings on the unopened portions of the inner end of the wire I9, and the lightly wrapped parts 20 of the interwoven wires. These several parts are brought into such interrelation in the case that they mutually act and react upon each other in the best manner to secure the desired results of clear reception unhindered by unwanted noises. Furthermore, the wrapped portions 28 of the interwoven wires act as retarders and levelers of the impulses and assist in producing clear reception.

By means of this invention, the impulses delivered to the receiving set are controlled to a level or even flow, thus avoiding or eliminating the quite common fault of a station fading out once it has been tuned in.

As many modifications of the invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to the specific details of operation or construction herein disclosed'except within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The improvements herein described, and. comprising a relatively short flexible multiple strand wire adapted to be connected at one end to the antenna circuit of a radio receiving set, a twin flexible wire adapted to be connected at one end to a supply circuit such as an electric light circuit, an electricity using device at the opposite end of said twin wire, a closed casing, the two wires closely interwoven together within said casing for a relatively short distance, the antenna wire returning close to but insulated from the woven wires to the beginning of said interweaving, the end portion of the antenna wire being bared and the strands thereof opened and spread out to form a succession of disk-like formations.

2. The improvements herein described, and comprising a relatively short flexible multiple strand wire adapted to be connected at one end to the antenna circuit of a radio receiving set, a twin flexible wire adapted to be connected at one end to a supply circuit such as an electric light circuit, an electricity using device at the opposite end of said twin wire, a closed casing, the two wires closely interwoven together within said casing for a relatively short distance, the antenna wire returning upon the woven wires to the beginning of said interweaving, the end portion of the antenna wire being bared and the strands thereof opened and spread out to form a succession of loops, and the free end portion of the antenna wire being spread out into a fan-shape in substantially a single plane and providing a plurality of needle-like points for the antenna wire within the casing.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, the casing having a portion lined with woven wire, and some of the pointed ends of the antenna wire contacting therewith.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2, some of the pointed ends of the antenna wire contacting with some of the spread loops of the antenna wire.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2, the casing having a portion lined with woven wire, some of the pointed ends contacting with said woven wire and some with some of the loops of meantenna wire.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1, the several disk-like formations being arranged in approximately a single plane.

'7. The invention as defined in claim 1, one side of the casing being partially open and said side lined with fine mesh metallic screening.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1, one side of the casing being partially open and said side lined with fine mesh copper wire screening.

9. The invention as defined in claim 2, the interwoven portion of the, twin and antenna wire secured rigidly in position in the casing and surrounding the loops and the pointed ends of the antenna wire.

10. The invention as defined in claim 1, the returning portion of the antenna wiretightly held associated with the interwoven portion of the two wires by wrappings of electrical tape at intervals with wrappings of tin foil beneath the wrappings of tape.

11. The invention as defined in claim 1, the associated twin and antenna wires arranged surrounding said disk-like formations and in relative close proximity thereto.

12. The invention as defined in claim 1, the associated twin and antenna wires arranged surrounding said disk-like formations and in relative close proximity thereto, and in a plane adjacent to the plane of the loops.

13. The invention as defined in claim 1, the unloosened portions of the multiple strand wire having wrappings of tin foil thereon.

14. The invention as defined in claim 1, the interwoven portion of the twin and antenna wire and the returning portion of the antenna wire held tightly together at intervals by wrappings of electrical tape with wrappings of tinfoil beneath same.

15. The invention as defined in claim 1, the

in the bottom corner of the case by insulated staples.

MAURICE H. LIVINGSTON. 

